Apologies for absence were received from  Cllrs Clarke, Jakobsson, Laplain and Tumbridge.

Members had been saddened to learn of the death of former councillor Mrs Shirley Howe.  Mrs Howe had served as ward member for Brentwood West from 1996 to 2004 and as Mayor from 2003-4 and all present observed a minute’s silence in tribute to her.

No declarations of interest were made.

Members were reminded that at the Ordinary Council on 26 June 2019 it was agreed to proceed with the recruitment of a Full time Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer.

A comprehensive recruitment process took place which included the candidates undertaking technical interviews and being interviewed by a Stakeholder Panel and the Council’s Staff Appointments Committee. The Staff Appointments Committee’s recommendation needed to be ratified by Full Council.

Following the June Ordinary Council meeting, the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer, Daniel Toohey, left the Council’s employ therefore a process needed to be commenced in accordance with statutory requirements for the recruitment of a Monitoring Officer.

Pending this appointment, it was recommended that Paula Harvey acted as Interim Head of Legal Services and in the statutory position of Monitoring Officer.

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the recommendations in the report with the addition of the words ‘Electoral Registration Officer’.

A vote was taken on a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that

Upon the recommendation of the Staff Appointments Committee

1          Extraordinary Council approves the appointments of Jonathan Stephenson as Full time Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service,  Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer.

2          Approves the appointment of Paula Harvey as Interim Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer with effect from the 1st September 2019.

3          That Officers undertake a recruitment process for the role of Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer in accordance with statutory requirements.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Hossack, acknowledged Steve Summers’ selflessness in encouraging an external appointment for the role of Head of Paid Service and thanked him for his management of the Council during his tenure as Interim Chief Executive.

Reasons for Recommendations

1.     The Council has a statutory duty under Section 4 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to designate one of its officers as its Head of Paid Service to discharge functions relating to the organisation and management of staff.

2.     The Council is required by Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to designate one of its officers as its Monitoring Officer, to discharge statutory responsibilities relating to the Council’s Constitution and arrangements for effective governance. The appointment must be approved by Full Council following a recommendation by the Staff Appointments Committee.

To consider any matter which, by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes of the meeting, the Mayor considers should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.

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The meeting ended at 19.15hrs.